"...but the greatest of these...is love...." 1 Corinthians 13:1-13) Part II

Today, I want to continue sharing the amazing things that God has done in and through Ashley’s life as she participated in YWAM. Last time, I share a few details, but today, I want to share with you the points to the message God laid upon her heart to share with our church body.

Before I begin, I need you to know that the things I’m about to share, are my beliefs. You may or may not agree with me, yet they are the beliefs that I hold dear and true to my heart.

Some may say:

~ you are too traditional

~ times have changed

~ Jesus doesn’t work that way any longer

~ to reach the world today, we need to blur lines

~we need to be tolerant

Regardless of different viewpoints, what I’m about to share may step on some toes, so if you don’t want to be offended, or challenged, I’d suggest you not go any further.


Now let me begin.

There are a few things you need to know about my sweet Ashley before I begin. Ashley is one of the strongest young women I know. She stands for her faith and her beliefs, regardless of what is going on around her. In fact, she was so bold and vocal in H.S. that she spent most of her years without any close friends because she WOULDN’T do, what the other’s were doing. God’s truly given Ashley a gift to preach (just like her Daddy) and I’m in awe as she spends time seeking her Heavenly Father to reveal to her heart that which he wanted her to share with our church body.

Ashley read from:
Ezekiel 39:7-8 (New International Version)
" 'I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel. It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD. This is the day I have spoken of.

Ezekiel 39:7-8 (The Message)
"I'll reveal my holy name among my people Israel. Never again will I let my holy name be dragged in the mud. Then the nations will realize that I, God, am The Holy in Israel. "It's coming! Yes, it will happen! This is the day I've been telling you about.

These were the 3 key points she shared: (please note..she only had a few minutes to share)

~Why are you a Christian?

Are you a Christian because you don’t want to go to hell? Are you a Christian because it’s eases your conscience? Are you a Christian because it’s the thing to do? Are you a Christian because you were raised that way??? Why do you serve God?

The answer to this question should be,…. that you serve him, because he’s WORTHY to be served. God has done so much for each of use through the cross; we ought to find ourselves on our knees, on our face, worshipping a most Holy God.

~We in America are SO blessed, yet we scoff at God through our words and actions.

Thousands of people bow down to Buddha everyday trying to find some sense of peace in their hearts and lives. Yet here we sit in America, with the privilege to serve God, and instead, we busy ourselves with things that don’t matter, trying to fill our lives with things of this world.

~God is tired of HIS church, following after the things of this world, rather than after his heart.

We the church are so busy trying to build buildings, trying to raise money to get what we think God wants…all the while, people are being turned off and many are leaving the church by the masses. Contrary to this, thousands of people in foreign countries meet in tents to hear the word of God because they are so hungry for the truth. Yet, here we sit in America…our churches are empty, sinners are going to hell, saints have grown weary from the church “playing church”, and we wonder why God isn’t blessing our churches.

~You will one day, stand before the judgement seat of Christ and you WILL give an account of your life. You will NOT be able to say, "my friend made me do it!" "But Lord, this is the direction my church went, and I didn't want to be the only one not following!" "But Lord, it was hard."

We will each give an account one day...we WILL have to answer on our own...only for ourself!! Are you living your life...in such a way so you are ready??

Of course, I’m sure there is MUCH more detail that my mind isn’t remembering, but I did want to give you a glimpse into the heart of my Ashley.

Here is where, I will now expound a little.


The things Ashley shared are so true, and in fact, my heart breaks for the state of the church.

Months ago, I shared with my dh that in my minds eye I get this word picture. I see my precious Jesus, standing at the back our church weeping as he looks through the windows each and every Sunday. And as he watches and weeps, he’s crying out to his people saying:

“When will you let ME in? When will you let my spirit move in your midst? When will you stop trying and let me? When will you forsake what YOU think, and follow after me?”

I know many would say times have changed, and we need to come up with new methods to reach the lost. Yet, my Bible says:

Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified Bible)
Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).


So often I feel the church has blurred their vision. They feel that to reach the world, we must be appealing to the world.


Friend, I don’t agree with that. The Jesus I serve still sets the captive free, he still heals, he still delivers, he still saves; and he’s looking for a people who will do as Matthew 16:24 says:

24Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [[a]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

You see, his message hasn’t changes, yet the church has. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with the Drama presentations, the more upbeat worship, skits, and the like, BUT when our churches are more interested in ENTERTAINING, than preaching the word of God…there’s a problem. When our churches have so lowered their standards that we look like we just rolled out of bed to come to church..to worship and meet the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, there’s a problem.

Yes, I know there needs to be a balance…and I struggle with this weekly. I was raise very traditional…we were NEVER allowed to wear pants to church…yet some of that can be legalistic…….and that’s not right. We need a balance.


I want to share with you a quote that recently, was used in the sermon notes at our church, and as I read them, my heart broke….and I know Jesus’ did too.

The sermon on this given Sunday was about a problem the church has today called: “The Roof-tile Syndrome” The quote read:

Roof-tile Syndrome is when we are so caught up in the preaching of Jesus, we turn our backs to the needs of those still outside the building. We become barriers and not gateways. It's when we care more about keeping things intact than about restoring lives that are shattered. It's when we're more upset when stuff gets broken than excited when the broken are mended. It's when church gets reduced to the preaching of Jesus so that we fail to notice that we're seeing very little of the forgiveness and healing of Jesus. It is when we are so fearful about upsetting the religious folk (or homeowners) in our midst that we stop taking risks to get people to Jesus.


Perhaps pieces of this quote are good…YET…the first sentence was enough for Holy anger to rise within me. What do you mean “when we are so caught up in the preaching of Jesus?” Heaven help our churches if we are more interested in tickling ears, than we are in preaching truth that leads to repentance!!!!!!

Friends, our country is headed in a terrible direction, and I’m fearful that the church is beginning to lead the pack. Today, there are NO absolutes. We are TOLERANT of everyone, every situation, and every lifestyle because we don’t want to offend. Yet, my Jesus offended…..he spoke truth (in love) the type of truth that caused men, woman, and children to TURN from their wicked ways and follow after him!!!!


I’ve recently read a book by Dr. Dobson’s son Ryan called: Be Intolerant. I believe we need to be more intolerant today. There is black and white, wrong and right…do’s and don’ts. So often we allow those in our lives to live in sin, being fearful to say anything to them because we don’t want to offend.

Please know…that as I’ve shared my heart today, I’m NOT angry or mad. But rather, my heart is so grieved by what I’m seeing take place in the body of Christ today, and I’m certain, that my amount of grieving, CANNOT even compare, to how my Heavenly Father feels.

Praying that God would speak to each of our hearts…..

Love~
Kim